Stage 2

It is late and we have to get up early tomorrow to hike along the Benediktenwand, so I'll keep this short. A long day -- much longer than planned: 7.5 hours instead of 6. The problem was that the paths along the Isar prior to Bad Toelz that were straight as an arrow on the map were totally zig-zaggy on the ground (as in a zig every 2 meters). And when they were straight, usually they were horse paths with loose pebbles (Schotter) that felt as if one were walking along a beach. It was a lovely hike, but it was tiring and long.

The day was however saved from a descent into mutterings about how Shackleton would never have done this to his men, by the sudden and totally unexpected appearance of two cheering and bell-ringing maniacs with flags on which was written "H2H" and "Go Sally, Guy, Russ, and Dave", and on which were also the flags of all the countries through which the H2H goes. It was Beatrice and Arnulf, who had parked their car in Lenggries and ridden their bikes back along the Isar to Bad Toelz asking everyone they met if they had seen four Americans with huge packs. We met them just before Bad Toelz and then all had lunch together.

In the afternoon (ok, later than that: it was 3:15) they announced that they would accompany us back to Lenggries on foot, pushing their bicycles, a distance of over 12 km. Greater love have no friends than these two.... They stayed with us for dinner and left around 9:30, promising to reappear in Switzerland (at the latest!).

Much more to say (for example about the Bavarian jumping slugs), but I need to get some sleep so that's all for now.